Tonga, unique among Pacific nations, never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

Getting started with Tonga research

Understanding the history of Tonga is critical. Click here to access guidelines for doing Tongan research. When you are done, click on the upper left hand arrow of the tool bar to return to this page.

Jurisdictions

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Research Tools

To learn about the noble, chieftan, and royal lines, click here for a website established by Christopher Bayers of the UK. Mr. Bayers also provides Niu'atuputapu lines of those who ruled the Tongan island of 'Eua.

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Marriage Matters

That the marriage of Sinaitakala Ilangi Leka, Tu'i Tonga Fefine of Tongatapu, daughter of Uluakimata the 1st also known as Tele'a, who was the 29th Tu'i Tonga [King] and his Ma'itaki wife [premier wife], Mataukipa, daughter of Kau'ulufonua Hua, Chief of Mataliku, to the Fijian chief, Tapu'osi from the village of Vasivasi, Fiji shifted the political alliance from Samoa to Fiji. Uluakimate the 1st reigned in Tonga as King and is calculated to have started his reign about 1561.[1]

Taxation Tongan Style. Taxation took three basic forms.

1. Taxation by tribute was given twice a year. The first was the first fruist 'inasi ceremony that was a form of prayer to the gods for ample crops in the forthcoming season. The second 'inasi ceremony was a tribute where district chiefs occasionally dertermined the amount of kind of items demanded of their district landowners. At this second tribute offering, the choice of tribute was often left up to the individual. However, if the tribute was deemed lacking, that individual could find his or her property taken away. Therefore, the second 'inasi tribute ceremony was often termed a "gift of respect" and resulted in individual tax payment greater than was expected.

2. Taxation by corvee which means enforced labor. Major efforts were carried out through corvee and were essentially carried out on larger landholdings of important chiefs. At times, two or three times a week laborers from inferior chief's entourage would work for other chiefs to plant and work the plantations such as for the Tu'i Kanokupolo.

3. Taxation by fono which was a public meeting and compulsory. Decrees, advise, and warnings were issued at these meetings. Tribute might be in demanding food for special occassions such as feasts or burial ceremonies. A fono could also be used to organize and appoint work details. Chiefs seldom attended these fono events and sent their matapule advisors. Lesser chiefs would hold smaller fono meetings for their tenants. There was no give and take discussions at fonos. Essentially the work was accomplished by those under the rule of the lesser chiefs.

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